“[Sen. Arlen] Specter switches to Democrat. Given how miserably he was doing in primary-polling against Pat Toomey, this is no surprise. Of course, this gives Obama a filibuster-proof majority.”
Only until the 2010 elections. But by then it may be too late.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
SWINE FLU 24/7
On the radio driving to work this morning -- the 24/7 swine flu “pandemic” panic.
As of 8 am, WTOP radio reported 150 dead; 2,000 cases of swine flu in Mexico, with 150 deaths. In the U.S., there were 50 cases, with no deaths.
Hmm. From Wikipedia, an epidemic occurs when new cases of a certain disease substantially exceed what is "expected" based on recent experience; a pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that spreads through populations across a large region.
So, okay, I guess that in a strictly technical sense, swine flu could be called a pandemic.
But a pandemic requiring 24/7 Chicken Little "the sky is falling” coverage?
Umm, let’s see. Plain old ordinary winter flu kills roughly 36,000 people/year in the U.S. - roughly equivalent to 100/day, year-round. Heart attacks kill about 500,000 Americans annually, roughly 1300/day, every day. There are about 1,600 cardiac catheterizations performed daily in U.S. hospitals (two of them were mine).
And our factotums are obsessing over swine flu. What’s missing here?
As of 8 am, WTOP radio reported 150 dead; 2,000 cases of swine flu in Mexico, with 150 deaths. In the U.S., there were 50 cases, with no deaths.
Hmm. From Wikipedia, an epidemic occurs when new cases of a certain disease substantially exceed what is "expected" based on recent experience; a pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that spreads through populations across a large region.
So, okay, I guess that in a strictly technical sense, swine flu could be called a pandemic.
But a pandemic requiring 24/7 Chicken Little "the sky is falling” coverage?
Umm, let’s see. Plain old ordinary winter flu kills roughly 36,000 people/year in the U.S. - roughly equivalent to 100/day, year-round. Heart attacks kill about 500,000 Americans annually, roughly 1300/day, every day. There are about 1,600 cardiac catheterizations performed daily in U.S. hospitals (two of them were mine).
And our factotums are obsessing over swine flu. What’s missing here?
NO APOLOGIES, MATE
In 2007, Prime Minister John Howard changed the name of the ministries of the Australian government. What had been the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs became the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
Asked why, the former prime minister replied, “The whole idea of immigration is to make citizens. Multiculturalsim is a very confused credo.”
For an astonishing sight - namely, a world leader who refuses to make any concession whatsoever to political correctness - click here.
Asked why, the former prime minister replied, “The whole idea of immigration is to make citizens. Multiculturalsim is a very confused credo.”
For an astonishing sight - namely, a world leader who refuses to make any concession whatsoever to political correctness - click here.
FELONY STUPIDITY?
Was the New York city flyover yesterday “felony stupidity?”
I wouldn't call it felony stupidity; I call it felony arrogance.
[Update] We now have felony stupidity, felony arrogance, and felony complacency (see comment). I'll go with commenter Stephen den Beste over at Transterrestial Musings:
Felony arrogance it is.
I would call this felony stupidity. This is probably not the right job for Mr. Caldera to be in if he didn't understand the likely reaction of the New Yorkers and the mayor. And while the White House have said they are furious, I think they have to look at whether or not this is the right job for Mr. Caldera.
I think this office is too important to have somebody who doesn't have the judgment to understand the impact of this. This was not necessary.
I wouldn't call it felony stupidity; I call it felony arrogance.
[Update] We now have felony stupidity, felony arrogance, and felony complacency (see comment). I'll go with commenter Stephen den Beste over at Transterrestial Musings:
If people had been told, they might have objected and prevented it.
That fits with the overall theme of Obama wanting what he wants, and not accepting anything that gets in the way of his getting what he wants.
Felony arrogance it is.
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